Motorcycles may be fun to ride, but getting into an accident with one is no joke. In the majority of crashes, there are severe injuries and often death. The causes of accidents are often rider error or the behaviors of other motorists.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, fatalities and serious injuries are much more common among motorcyclists than for other vehicle operators. The costs associated with motorcycle accidents reach into the billions of dollars every year. These costs include medical bills, property damage, lost wages, insurance costs, emergency services, loss of productivity and attorney costs.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discusses why a collision involving a motorcycle is such a violent incident. One of the biggest reasons relates to the motorcycle itself. There is not protection in the form of a roof, air bags, windows, seat belts or doors, which is why head injuries are so common. It is also common for the rider to eject from the motorcycle when it suddenly stops.
The makeup of a motorcycle also makes it less stable than other vehicles because it only has two wheels. Its size also makes it harder for other drivers to see. Other drivers may also not understand exactly how a motorcyclist maneuvers, and that can lead to crashes.
Accidents also occur due to the behaviors of the motorcyclist. Alcohol use is high in fatal crashes. There are also a number of motorcyclists that do not have the proper license to operate this type of vehicle. Some motorcycle riders also go without a helmet, which is extremely dangerous because wearing one is the best protection against head injury.